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Dear Friends, Happy October! It seems most of us think about pumpkins when October rolls around but there is so much more happening this month. Of course, at the top of the list we have Nation al Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Hail to everyone who has beaten the breast cancer beast. We have so many holistic ways to fight breast cancer these days. As you know, Natural Awakenings is a wonderful place to go for all things holistic. It’s a good idea to keep your copy for future reference and share it with your friends.
In addition to breast cancer awareness, you might be interested to know there are quite a few other October celebrations in the U.S. I Googled it and found this list just for October 1!
n National Homemade Cookies Day n National Hair Day
n International Day of Older Persons (okay, where do we draw that line?)
n International Coffee Day n World Vegetarian Day n International Music Day
There you go. Lots of reasons to celebrate. One more reason is Natural Awakenings’ October special edition: Healthy Planet. What would the world be like if every one of us took it upon ourselves to create and keep a healthy planet? This month’s feature article, “Sustainable Sanctuaries, Supporting Humans and Planetary Health at Home” tells us how to do that. Imagine living in a sanctuary that gives back more to the world than it takes. Your home could essentially produce more energy than it consumes, according to the article. Oh, if I knew then what I know now I would truly be living in a renewable sanctu ary; a worthy goal for everyone. Read on page 14 if you are inspired like I am by the goal of using eco-responsible materials and water and energy conservation.
Along these lines, I want to introduce to you a new department in our publication, “Gulf Coast Green Living.” We live in coastal communities from Mobile to Gulfport and every city in between and they care deeply about saving our planet. The stories are all around us. This year Natural Awakenings published articles about Airbus using sustainable aviation fuel, Clean Water Alabama’s mission to ensure our water resources are clean and protected and, in August, we learned about Hatch Fairhope, a sustainable business incuba tor. Read on in the pages ahead to hear about Fairhope and Foley’s solar powered research project for EV charging.
I am passionate about the health and wellness of our Gulf Coast people who are the friendliest and most genuine people I know. And I am passionate about our beautiful Gulf Coast environment and waters. So, I want to do my part in contributing to the well ness of all the above. If you are passionate about these same things, please email me your community’s green-living story or post on our Facebook page, Facebook.com/Natural AwakeningsMag. We will respond!
God bless you and keep you until we meet,
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Ginger Dunaway, owner of Quiet Mind Massage and Yoga in Mobile has opened in a new space to provide restorative massage therapy and private yoga sessions by appointment. “Whether it’s through massage or yoga, it is my goal for every client to leave feeling as if life has slowed down, priorities are back in line with what really matters and their life purpose is clear as day. Massage and yoga are thera peutic on so many levels,” says Dunaway.
Quiet Mind opened in 2010 but Dunaway has been a licensed and nationally certified massage therapist for the last 23 years here in Mobile. Her work includes detailed neuromuscular therapy (trigger-point work) for specific pain patterns as well as deep tissue and restorative modalities. “I often work with clients who have frequent headaches, neck and shoulder pain, sciatic pain or lower back or hip discomfort,” says Dunaway. “I also utilize my intu ition with energy work for a deeper, more relaxing experience in the massage.”
A yoga practitioner for 21 years and a Kripalu certified yoga teacher for 15 years, Dunaway has experienced firsthand the life-changing power of a consistent yoga practice and shares this in her book, Way of the Spiritual Yogi: 6-Step Guidebook to Find Your Self and on her web site Spiritual-Yogi.com. “Yoga is considered movement meditation. For some of us, we are more drawn to movement meditation rather than seated meditation,” Dunaway explains. “Both yoga as movement meditation and seated meditation are exceptional practices and help take us beyond the chatter of the mind to a place in which we have access to higher guidance, deep peace and total contentment. If you are under a lot of stress or going constantly with kids, work, etc. then hatha yoga is the perfect way to clear your mind and rebalance your body.”
Location: 2158 Government St., Mobile, AL. To schedule a session at Quiet Mind Massage & Yoga Studio, text or call 251-458-6584 or schedule online at schedulicity.com/scheduling/ QMM99Y. A link to open appointments is also available through Facebook at Facebook.com/ QuietMindMassage. For more information on Ginger Dunaway’s methods or her book, see Spiritual-Yogi.com. See ad, page 4.
TMAC Hair Studio was thoughtfully designed using nature and art to be a relaxing and eco-friendly space. “There are many ways in which we strive to reduce our impact on the environment,” says Tara McAdams, master cosmetologist and owner.
The OWAY products at the salon begin on a biodynamic farm in Bologna, Italy, where medicinal herbs are planted and harvested to obtain the precious ingredi ents for their green chemistry formulas. This process is free of pesticides, herbi cides, insecticides and synthetic fertilizers used in conventional agriculture.
OWAY products come in fully recyclable packaging which eliminates a large amount of waste production. They are also shipped using boxes made from recycled materials as well as biodegradable packing peanuts.
TMAC’s shampoo refill program allows customers to reuse the original OWAY glass containers indefinitely with a 20 percent discount. This eliminates the use of single use plastic bottles.
“Low flow water heads and faucet aera tors greatly reduce our water consumption and we use reusable foil alternative paper instead of foil,” says McAdams.
The studio also has a collection of plants to naturally filter and improve the air quality and all natural cleaning supplies are used in the space with washable and reusable towels.
“We believe you are never too small to make a big difference,” says McAdams.
Location: Fountain Square, 2101 US-98, Daphne, AL. 251-725-4334. Mid-Towne Works, 1861 Old Government St., Mobile, AL. 251-607-6666. See ad, page 7.
Ginger Dunaway
Bishop Physical Therapy, Daphne, AL, offers a diverse group of Physical Therapists (DPT) and Physical Therapists Assistants (PTA) that provide physical therapy along with natural manual medicine modalities to help people recover from chronic pain, spine disorders and orthopedic problems.
Dr. Daniel Bishop, DPT is certified in dry needling, spinal manipulation and advanced postural biomechanical correction. He is a complex spine specialist.
Dr. Todd Bonds, DPT is certified in dry needling, spinal ma nipulation and he is an orthopedic certified specialist.
Rebecca Parsons, PTA is certified in pelvic floor therapy and specializes in TMD/migraines.
Mark Bourque, PTA is certified in vestibular and concussion therapy by the American Institute of Balance.
Clair Williams, PTA is certified in total motion release which can restore asymmetries in the body.
“Something new we’ve brought to the clinic is pulsed electro magnetic field or PEMF technology, which stimulates and in creases blood flow to healthy muscles for improved performance and recovery. Enhanced local circulation is achieved by delivery of a patented therapeutic signal that ensures muscles are supplied with ample oxygen,” says Bishop. “In addition to these benefits, it also supports stress reduction, relaxation and rest. This treatment is safe, non-invasive and easy to use, allowing you to improve your health in just eight minutes.”
To try PEMF therapy or schedule with any of the providers at Bishop Physical Therapy, call 251-626-7778.
Location: 1203 Hwy 98 Ste. 1C, Daphne, AL. 251-626-7778. BishopPhysicalTherapy.com. See ad, page 12.
It costs so much to carry emotional pain, it’s time to let it go. Splankna is a Christian therapy that goes directly to the root cause of whatever is holding you back. We help you release your burdens and find the freedom to forgive, love and be the real you.
“I have seen tremendous changes in my body’s alignment and a dramatic decrease in pain. I attribute these changes to the release of emotions & trauma that my body held.”
- Amber, Baldwin County
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22873 U.S. 98 Building I, Fairhope, AL Dennis@WaterSongLife.com 251-277-1816
is for the old and the young; for people suffer ing from osteoporosis and for high-performance athletes.
“It is the foundation for all other biohacks because we help with the foundation of the body, the skeletal system. If our skeletal system is not in order, our muscles, organ systems and energy levels can’t be,” says Josh Fandrich, owner. “Whether someone is seeking to recover from a frail health system or to push your athletic game to the next level, there is a program for everyone because the one thing we all have in common is our skeletal system.”
As the body ages, bone density decreases. The skeletal system is what holds everything together and upright, but after the age of 30, people lose between one to three percent of that bone mass annually. That is, unless the central nervous system can be triggered to stimu late the adaptation to grow bone faster. Bone is always rebuilding itself and, as a result, the body has a completely new skeletal system every 7 to 10 years. “Bone is living tissue, but as the body ages, it just doesn’t replace its mass as fast as when we were younger because we are unable to safely achieve a high enough load on the tissue to trigger the adaptation due to decreased conditioning levels,” says Fandrich.
In 2015, it was discovered that people need a minimum of 4.2 multiples of their own body weight in weight bearing or impact forces to trigger bone growth. This can be dangerous or unachievable in traditional training environments because the risk outweighs the results. This explains why osteoporosis
affects everyone if they live long enough as well as why so many secondary health conditions come along the side of a weakening skeletal system.
But Dr. John Jaquish invented the technology called “spec trum,” which allows OsteoStrong members to safely engage in these loading events without any real risk because it’s a controlled movement conducted with a session coach in the proper position that the body naturally goes through in an impact scenario.
For elite athletes looking for an edge or advantage, OsteoStrong is key to a rapidly growing and strong skeletal system and helping to avoid plateaus. The central nervous system will never allow the muscles to become more powerful than what the skeletal system can handle. It’s like putting a formula one racing engine on the chassis of an economy car. That power isn’t built for that frame and would destroy that vehicle.
“If we want to be able to explode faster, have more strength, jump higher, leap further and be less prone to injury, we must address this. Unfortunately, we can’t do it in the amount of time needed with traditional weight training. We need a system that expedites its growth because athletes are on a short timeframe of being able to compete at the highest level,” says Fandrich.
“This is what OsteoStrong delivers and with other built in bio hack technologies such as BioCharger, red-light therapies, PEMF mats, vibration plates and Normatec recovery systems, we can give people the ultimate advantage in minutes versus hours mak ing us the ultimate biohack system available for everyone.”
Location: 333 Greeno Rd. South, Fairhope, AL. 251-210-6955. Fairhope@OsteoStrong.me. See ad, page 23.
Sundays at 10:30AM
All Saints Chapel 251-333-0435 opentableucc.org Instagram: @opentablemobile
Sustainability is beautiful with our 100% organic products. call/text for an appointment: 251-607-6666 TMACsHairStudio.com
For years, scientists thought that learning difficulties such as attention deficit and hyperactivity dis order (ADHD) and autism (ASD) corre sponded to specific areas of the brain. The latest research, however, suggests something entirely different according to a University of Cambridge blog called Brain Balance Cambridge researchers discovered that no particular area of the brain caused learning difficulties. They found that weak connectivity between different regions of the brain may be the reason why some children struggle.
The study revealed that the brain is organized in hubs, like a transit system or a social network. Children who had well-connected brain hubs either had very specific cog nitive difficulties, such as poor listening skills, or had no cognitive difficulties at all. By contrast, children with poorly connected hubs—like a transit station with few or poor con nections—had widespread and severe cognitive problems.
The severity of the learning difficulties was strongly as sociated with the connectedness of brain hubs, suggesting that the connectivity between these hubs plays a key role in passing information between different areas of the brain.
At Mind Performance Center in Foley, Dr. Doug Brown uses a Functional Medicine approach to determine if there’s an underlying cause for the child’s behavior such as hormone imbalances, vitamin deficiencies and other physical problems that can lead to brain imbalance symptoms. Ruling out those underlying causes, Brown assesses the brain pathways that may contribute to the behavior. He develops an individualized treatment plan using pathway rehab to restore the correct pathway in the brain. As nerve connections improve, the brain can inhibit inappropriate behavior.
Brown goes beyond simply treating the obvious sensory issue and looks at what’s happening in the brain, treating what he calls central integration disorder (CID). CID is the process that allows the brain to take in all information and turn it into memories, emotions, plans and actions.
To learn more about treatment for behavior disorders or how Mind Performance Center can also help with demen tia and resistant depression, book an appointment online.
Location: 240 West Laurel Ave., Foley. Call 251-732-550. MindPerformanceCenter.com. See ad, this page.
Dr. Doug Brown and staff
Eating higher amounts of fish, specifically tuna and non-fried fish, appears to increase the risk of malignant melanoma, according to a Brown University study of 491,367 U.S. adults published in the journal Cancer Causes and Control Examining 15 years of data, the researchers found that compared to subjects with a median daily fish in take of .11 ounces, those with a me dian daily intake of 1.5 ounces had a 22 percent higher risk of malignant melanoma and a 28 percent increased risk of melanoma in situ, characterized by abnormal cells in the outer layer of the skin. “We speculate that our findings could possibly be attributed to contaminants in fish, such as polychlori nated biphenyls, dioxins, arsenic and mercury,” says study author Eunyoung Cho, an associate professor of derma tology and epidemiology. Pending further research on the underlying biological mechanisms, the authors did not recommend any changes to fish consumption.
Dry skin can afflict people at any age, particularly those living in dry climates, and it is commonplace in older people due to the natural loss of oil glands. Japanese researchers have found a possible solution: a probiotic originally fer mented from a Southeast Asian rice-and-fish dish that boosts skin moisture within weeks. In a doubleblind study, they tested 80 middle-aged adults with a supplement of heat-killed Lactiplantibacillus plantarum probiotics for 12 weeks. They found the supplement significantly increased skin water content and reduced transepidermal water loss in the face, particularly for seniors and those with the driest skin.
The critical importance of simple lifestyle strategies in cancer prevention has been borne out by two re cent endeavors.
In a five-year study of 2,157 physically active people over 70 from five Europe an countries, inter national researchers found that 2,000 International Units a day of vitamin D3 and one gram a day of marine omega-3s, plus a simple home-strength exercise program, reduced the risk of invasive cancers by 61 percent. Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, in Boston, that analyzed the diets and health outcomes of 134,775 people, found that a Western-style diet rich in red and processed meat, sugar, refined grains and carbohydrates was linked with an E. coli strain prominent in colorectal cancer.
photo by NutraIngredients.com
The U.S. Forest Service is speeding efforts to protect giant sequoias from wildfires; almost 20 percent of the ancient trees have been destroyed by wildfire in the last two years. They will thin the forest in and around sequoia groves by removing brush and smaller trees from 13,000 acres of national forest to protect 12 giant sequoia groves this summer and conduct prescribed burns using the agency’s emergency authority under the National Environmental Policy Act. Forest Service Chief Randy Moore says, “With out urgent action, wildfires could eliminate countless more iconic giant sequoias.”
Giant sequoias can live for more than 3,000 years and are found only on the western slopes of California’s Sierra Nevada mountains. The trees are adapted to fire with thick, spongy bark, and the heat releases seeds from their cones, allowing young trees to take root in areas cleared by fire. A policy to put out wildfires as quickly as pos sible has created unnaturally dense forests and allowed brush and dead wood to accumulate. Climate change has led to hotter temperatures, severe drought, a year-round fire season and the proliferation of bark beetles that have killed the drought-weakened trees. Bigger, hotter fires are more likely to reach giant sequoias’ crowns, killing them.
Scientists have created a membrane using sunflower and peanut oilseed meal that shows potential as a cheap, lowpower, sustainable and scalable method to decontaminate heavy metals from water. As published in the journal Chemical Engineering, a research team led by Professor Ali Miserez, of the Nanyang Technological University (Singapore) School of Materials Science and Engineering and School of Biological Sciences, and visiting Professor Raffaele Mezzenga, from the Department of Health Science and Technology at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, discovered that proteins derived from the byproducts of peanut or sunflower oil production can effectively attract heavy metal ions. They demonstrated that the process of attraction called adsorption is able to purify contaminated water to a degree that meets international drinking standards.
Miserez says, “Water pollution remains a major global issue in many parts of the world. Heavy metals represent a large group of water pollutants that can accumulate in the human body, causing cancer and mutagenic diseases. Current technologies to remove them are energy-inten sive, requiring power to operate, or are highly selective in what they filter. Our protein-based membranes are viable for use throughout the world, and especially in less-developed countries.” They are exploring commercial applications with the water filtration company BluAct.
thawats/AdobeStock.com
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species numbers 147,517 species, including 41,459 that are threatened with extinction. The latest update adds the migratory monarch butterfly, a sub species of the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus). In the past decade, the native population has shrunk by between 22 percent and 72 percent during winter mi grations from Mexico and California to summer breeding grounds throughout the U.S. and Canada due to logging and deforestation for agriculture and urban development. Pesticides and herbicides kill butterflies and milkweed, the host plant that the larvae of the monarch butterfly feed on. Drought related to climate change limits the growth of milk weed and increases the frequency of catastrophic wildfires, and temperature extremes trigger earlier migrations before milkweed is available, while severe weather has killed millions of butterflies.
Possible remedies are planting native milkweed, reducing pesticide and protecting the overwintering sites. IUCN Director General Dr. Bruno Oberle says, “To preserve the rich diversity of nature, we need effective, fairly governed, pro tected and conserved areas alongside decisive action to tackle climate change and restore ecosystems. In turn, conserving biodiversity supports communities by providing essential services such as food, water and sustainable jobs.”
Research underscores the importance of large mammals as ecosystem en gineers, shaping natural processes and sequestering carbon. Now scientists are planning to reintroduce these animals to the wild. According to a study published in the journal Ecography, reintroducing just 20 large mammal spe cies—13 herbivores and seven predators—can help increase biodiversity around the world and mitigate climate change. Some candidates for rewilding are brown bears, bison, wild horses, jaguars, reindeer, Eurasian beavers, elk, moose, wolverines, tigers and hippopotami. Large herbivores and predators continue to suffer alarming losses, and researchers estimate that almost two-thirds of the world’s large carnivores are threatened with extinction. Only 6 percent or less of 730 ecoregions retain the large mammal communities that were dominant 500 years ago.
In the paper, a global team of researchers led by the U.N. Environment Programme World Conservation Mon itoring Centre and the U.S. nonprofit RESOLVE point out that the rewilding of large mammals is an essential, but often omitted component of restoration efforts, and should become a global priority in the decade ahead. Re storing intact communities of large mammals won’t be easy. Populations have feared large wild animals, especially predators, often undertaking popular measures to minimize their numbers or eliminate them completely.
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Nestled among books on a shelf, soaking up sunlight by a kitchen window or filling the bare corner of a living room, nothing adds beauty and interest to a home quite like a living plant. Bringing nature indoors also has numerous human health advantages.
They oxygenate the air. We inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide, while plants do the opposite during photosynthesis. This makes them ideal air fresheners. At sundown, when photosynthesis stops, most plants go back to absorbing oxygen and re leasing CO2, except for orchids, succulents and bromeliads, making them wonderful bedside companions.
They eliminate toxins. Studies have shown that plants filter indoor air, removing vola tile organic compounds like benzene, xy lene, toluene, trichloroethylene, ammonia and formaldehyde, which are commonly
found in furniture adhesives, paints, car pets, chemical cleaners and craft supplies.
They humidify the indoor environment. Through a process called transpiration, moisture travels from plant roots to small pores on the underside of leaves, where it changes to vapor and is released into the air. In arid climates and during winter, this creates a favorable indoor atmosphere that decreases dry skin, colds, sore throats, dry coughs and even the transmission of the flu virus.
They enhance our mood. Research shows indoor plants boost our mental health. One study found that viewing plants while recovering from surgery led to physi ological improvements by lowering blood pressure and reducing the perception of pain, anxiety and fatigue. Also, the act of taking care of plants has been shown to be emotionally helpful.
They help with productivity. Placing a philodendron by the computer might be a good idea, as a number of studies have shown that being close to nature improves concentration, memory and productivity.
Some plants can be toxic to dogs and cats, but here are a few that are perfectly safe for our furry best friends: rattlesnake plant, spider plant, parlor palm, ponytail palm, African violet, bird’s nest fern, Venus flytrap, Boston fern, polka dot plant, orchid, stag horn fern, bromeliad, date palm and herbs.
Watering: Over- or under-watering are the most common houseplant killers, but there are easy fixes. One is a relatively inexpen sive moisture meter that helps monitor hy dration levels in a planter. Or simply stick a finger into the soil and add water only when it is dry one inch below the surface.
Low-light choices: Many plants thrive indoors with partial, indirect sunlight, and some are low-light tolerant, including lucky bamboo, spider plant, pothos, snake plant, staghorn fern, English ivy, peace lily, maidenhair fern, philodendron, anthur ium, corn plant and dragon tree.
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Bishop PTThe brain is an organ that we cannot afford to neglect because it has the largest impact on our overall well-being. When the brain is not prioritized, a person’s overall quality of life is negatively impacted. This manifests in areas of mental, emotional, and physical health.
We implement a tri-fold process of problem recogntion, talk therapy and the latest neurotechnology to disrupt unhealthy patterns and create new, healthy ones.
At Neuroflourish, we help to heal your mind so you can experience the life you dream about.
Nothing underscored the im portance of a comfortable and versatile sanctuary quite like the pandemic. Stuck at home isolating, many families reconfigured their living arrange ments to accommodate expanding uses for work, schooling, cooking, entertainment and more. Today, that spirit of renewal lingers, prompting steady and robust activ ity in the construction and interior design industries.
A house is literally our shelter from the storm, made more critical as we increas ingly encounter extreme and unprecedent ed weather events due to climate change. When we upgrade, remodel, build or buy new cocoons for our families, the time is ripe to incorporate elements that preserve and promote the health of humans and the planet.
Lindsay Baker, CEO of the International Living Future Institute (ILFI), is part of a
growing community of industry professionals trying to figure out how to design, build and operate structures in more environmentally sustainable, socially impactful and healthy ways. “We ask what would it look like if a building were to give back more to the world than it took,” she explains. “We’re a resource-consumptive industry with a large carbon footprint. Forty percent of global carbon emissions are caused by the energy re quired to construct and operate buildings. We also use lots of materials that pose negative impacts on people’s health—products known to contain carcinogens or cause respira tory problems—and people spend 90 percent of their time indoors, so everything we’ re exposed to indoors has a huge impact on our health.”
The ILFI Living Building Challenge sets bold aspirational goals, and build ings around the world have proven that it is possible to hit these benchmarks. “The energy imperative is that the building produces more energy than it consumes, and that happens by generating renewable energy like solar power onsite and using very little energy,” Baker asserts. “For wa ter, we ask that everyone return the water that goes through the building cleaner than it entered, which means people need to treat water onsite and use a lot less of it. You can do that with composting toilets, as well as grey water systems and rainwater recapture strategies.”
Photo courtesy of International Living Future Institute Photo courtesy of Pulte Homes at Babcock RanchBaker is proud of ILFI’s ambitious goals. “If you decide to do a renovation to save 5 or 10 percent of your water or energy consumption, it will feel good to get there, but what we’ve found is that when you set a really exciting target for yourself, the whole process is more fun and you get further with similar amounts of effort and money, because you’re thinking about systems differently, questioning assumptions about what a home might be capable of doing and employing a different level of creativity. At the end of the day, it can lead to a much more beautiful, more efficient building.”
modifications are low-flow shower heads, toilets and faucets, which cost the same as traditional-flow fixtures, as well as a visit from the plumber to fix any leaks. Minimizing or eliminating turf grass and planting drought-tolerant, native vegeta tion outside will also significantly cut water use, Languell suggests.
“Grey water and rainwater collection systems are gaining momentum, and these systems for home use have come leaps and bounds from where they were 10 years ago,” she says. “They can take water from your laundry or shower, treat it, and use it to flush toilets, for example—a huge benefit for the West Coast and a huge water sav ings, because you’re using your water twice before you dispose of it.”
Energy conservation is job number one for Jennifer Languell, founder and president of Trifecta Construction Solutions, in Babcock Ranch, Florida. “An inexpensive but impact ful upgrade is adding insulation. If you’re in an existing house, add insulation on top of what you already have. If you’re new construction, beef it up. You also want to address unwanted points of air infiltration using gaskets, weather stripping and caulking around exterior doors and windows. Over time, these items can shrink or get damaged, and may need to be replaced to seal the house and minimize air drafts,” she says. “You want to im prove efficiency first, which costs much less than transitioning to renewable energy. And when you do transition, you only have to buy smaller quantities of photovoltaic panels to offset your power generation.”
According to Languell, windows are climate-specific and can be modified by adding or subtracting panes, coatings and treatments. “In Montana, I want the heat from the sun coming into my house, but in Florida, I don’t,” she says. “Natural light is great, but there’s a balance between your glass-to-wall ratio. In Florida, you would never have a skylight, but up north you’d consider it. And at this point, everyone should be tran sitioning to LED lighting, which will save money and energy.”
As waterways dry up and areas around the world become more drought-prone, water conservation becomes an increas ingly important imperative. The simplest
With regard to building materials and products, the annual ILFI Red List calls out chemicals with negative human health impacts that shouldn’t be used in buildings, such as bisphenol A, chlorofluorocarbons, formaldehyde, flame retardants, phthalates, toxic heavy metals and volatile organic compounds (VOC). Its Declare label is like a nutrition sticker that details what is in a building product, whether it is free of Red List chemicals and what its carbon footprint is.
“Consumers should demand transpar ency; they should know what is in the products put in their homes,” Baker says. “One of the rules of thumb I like to apply is to ask, ‘How far is this material removed
from nature?’ Wood is one of the better materials from an ecological and health standpoint. Fake wood flooring that is meant to look like wood but in fact isn’t— not so much. A lot of what we’re support ing is about getting back to the basics, removing chemicals and using brick, wood and clay.”
According to Languell, the more durable and local a material is, the better for the environment. “I’d never say no to a metal or concrete roof that lasts 50 years versus shingles with a 15-year cycle. Although bamboo is rapidly renewable, most of it comes from China, so the greenhouse gases associated with the transportation makes it less environmentally friendly. Local materials are ideal. The closer the better. Get granite from Georgia, instead of Italy.”
When it comes to human health, home décor and cleaning products are equally as important as the construction materials, Languell advises. “Many times we’ll build a healthy and efficient home and then people put all sorts of fabrics and chemi cals in there that are off-gassing because they’re not thinking about the health of the indoor environment.”
“There’s good, better and best quality furni ture,” says Robin Wilson, a New York City eco-designer and founder of Robin Wilson Home. “Good might use inexpensive
wood or heavy-duty cardboards that look great, but if you sit on the arm of the sofa, it caves in. Better might have a less expensive wood, but it’s solid frame construction. The best is a very good wood and solid frame construction made for heirloom quality. There are costs associated with each level, and I recommend spending the most budget you have on a quality product, because that sofa, if it’s made well and it’s styled in a classic design, can be recovered over and over again; therefore, you’re being eco-friendly to the world because it’s not going into a landfill.”
Her favorite materials for furnishings are sustainably forested or reclaimed wood, long-lasting metals like steel and aluminum, fast-growing bamboo and recycled or re claimed plastics. She’s also a proponent of vintage pieces. “With all furniture, if it can be salvaged, salvage it. Healthwise, make sure the materials are hyper-washed to protect you from allergens. Old glazes or paints might have lead in them, so take vintage furniture to a professional that uses the right safety equipment or go to YouTube University and make sure that you protect yourself with gear to rework the piece in a garage or outdoor space. Always choose nontoxic paints and stains with low to no VOCs.”
Baker is particularly excited about interior design innovations that reconnect us to nature, known as biophilic design. “Natural light is important, but also, lighting manufacturers are figuring out how to produce lighting that feels like you’re sitting outside in a forest while a cloud passes by or under a tree with dappled light. Mohawk and Interface offer lowcarbon, healthy carpets that mimic natural forms like a rocky beach,” she says. “Fractals are often mentioned in biophilic design because they’re fascinating geometric compositions in nature like fly wings and bark that have an inherent intel ligence to them, and we’ve come to understand that these natural elements are not just interest ing, they also have measurable positive impact on our psyche and mental health.”
“I rate durability over everything else. If you build it once and it doesn’t get destroyed by a
Susan Katecat/AdobeStock.comnatural disaster, you’re going to generate less waste and use fewer resources,” Languell says. “Durability might mean fireproofing in California, windproofing in Florida and floodproofing in Louisi ana. It also means futureproofing your home, especially if you’re building new. Anticipate technologies that are coming. Even if you can’t afford photovoltaic panels now, for a couple of bucks, you can run electric conduit from your panel up to your roof so if ever you decide to buy them, it’s not a major overhaul of your house. Dual-pipe your house and have the pipes ready to tie in rainwater or grey water, even if it’s not financially viable right now. Wire your house for a 220-volt plug in your garage so everyone that has an electric vehicle can charge it overnight.”
Sandra Yeyati, J.D., is a professional writer and editor. Reach her at SandraYeyati@gmail.com.
n LEADERSHIP IN ENERGY AND ENVIRON MENTAL DESIGN (LEED) (usgbc.org) is the most widely used green building rating system in the world.
n SUSTAINABLE FURNISHINGS COUNCIL (SustainableFurnishings.org) champions wood from sustainable forests and elimination of toxins in furniture; links to eco-responsible vendors.
n ENERGY STAR (EnergyStar.gov) certifies products and offers guidance for efficient home solutions by U.S. regions and climates.
n THE ASTHMA AND ALLERGY FOUNDATION OF AMERICA (AsthmaAndAllergyFriendly.com) certifies asthma- and allergy-friendly options for insulation, air filters, flooring and paint.
n HOMEFREE (HomeFree.HealthyBuilding.net) showcases less toxic options for flooring, paint, drywall, countertops, cabinetry, doors, insulation, sealants and more.
n WATERSENSE (epa.gov/watersense) offers guid ance by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for water conservation and water-saving products.
n UNDERWRITERS LABORATORY (ul.com) certi fies safe and environmentally sound solutions in renewable energy, building materials, consumer electronics and home goods.
n INTERNATIONAL LIVING FUTURE INSTITUTE (Living-Future.org) accredits industry pros and certifies buildings that positively impact human and natural health.
Earlierthis spring, several local news outlets reported that Fairhope and Foley, along with 12 other cities in Alabama, now have solar-powered charging stations. The charging station located outside the Fairhope Civic Center and City Hall was officially launched May 4.
According to the WPMI Channel 15 News article from that day, “The Alabama Municipal Electric Authority is taking serious steps investing over a million dollars to build a network of solar-powered stations in key Alabama cities like Fairhope where tourists can park and shop while their electric cars are juicing up.” This new 50-kilo watt (kW) solar research project and charging station is now online.
“The further south you go possibly the better the sunshine so every community we’re in we will be learning,” said Fred Clark with the Alabama Municipal Electric Authority.
The Electric Authority says it will take about 30 years to get a return on the investment but they also say it isn’t about profit or making money, it’s about the research. “The data we receive from these proj ects will only benefit our knowledge of what takes place and what energy is produced,” said Clark. The profits will eventually come.
According to Fairhope Mayor, Sherry Sullivan, “We are waiting on the ADECA grant funds to be awarded and AMEA has offered a $50,000 match. We still plan to place those charging stations on Highway 98 when we receive the grant.”
“To date, we have had over 414 sessions on five charging sta tions since mid-April, and just over five megawatt-hours (MWh) of energy consumed with August being our busiest month with 107 sessions,” says Jeremy Morgan, Automated Metering Infra structure coordinator. “On a sunny day, the solar canopy produces around 20 kW of power and has produced more than 16 MWh since being commissioned in mid-April. But more importantly is the 12 tons of CO2 avoided from the 24.5 kWp system.”
An outline of the current plan is available through Alabama Department of Economic and Community affairs (ADECA). To learn more about Fairhope’s Solar Charging Station Project visit FairhopeAL.gov.
by Marlaina Donato
Whether it’s salsa, hip-hop, belly dance or ballet, finding our groove has proven to ease depression, support the cardiovas cular system and improve overall joint function. By all accounts, dancing gives us a step toward better health, but equally as noteworthy is its potential to bring more fun into our lives. Contrary to popular opinion, dancing is not just for kids, and special ability is not necessary. “You are never too old, and there is no such thing as two left feet, but we can also argue: When you have great instruc tors teaching you, you can learn anything as a beginner,” says Monique Maldonado, marketing director of the Latin Rhythms Acad emy of Dance and Performance, in Chicago.
Stepping into a dance studio can help us enrich our lives while sharpening cogni tive function. After participating in an eight-month dance program during which they memorized intricate steps of the merengue, salsa and samba, Span ish-speaking, middle-aged and older adults had significant improvement in working memory scores, reported University of Illinois Chicago researchers in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience. “Just like working out and puzzles, dancing works out brain paths and keeps them active and healthy,” says Maldonado.
Tango lovers will be pleased to know that the passionate dance style has
been shown in a 2017 study published in Complementary Therapies in Medicine to low er anxiety and stress levels more effectively than mindfulness meditation.
Mike Hallworth teaches cruise ship passengers, mostly in their 60s and 70s, how to navigate the dance floor.
“We teach all the main dance genres, including ballroom and Latin Ameri can, salsa and mambo, along with modern jive,” says the South port, England-based, lifelong dancer who teaches with his wife, Jan. “For those not as agile as they would like to be, I would suggest starting with ballroom, social foxtrot and waltz, then progress to Latin American, chacha and rumba.”
At age 75, he partially attributes his basal metabolic rate of 60—common in men 15 years his junior—to his love of danc ing, which “can burn up to 385 calories per hour with salsa or 400 calories per hour with swing,” he notes.
Joan Price, a contemporary line dance instructor in Sebastopol, California, also attests to the longevitypromoting perks of moving joyfully. “At 78, line danc ing keeps me physically fit, mentally alert and happy to be alive. The older we get, the more we
need social activity, physical movement and mental stimulation. You get all three at once with line dancing.”
The form has long outgrown its coun try-western music roots and now offers something for everyone, including Latin, swing, contemporary pop and Broadway. “Since you dance on your own in a row, line dancing is ideal for singles and for partners of non-dancers. It’s also won derful for people who want a social activ ity that doesn’t involve dating or partner ing,” says Price. She says that there are thousands of different line dances, rang ing from super-simple to extraordinarily complex. “As a beginner, be sure and choose a class that is beginning level,” she says. “Beginning level teaches basic steps, patterns and terminology—and the joy of dance!”
For those looking for a little more heat, Latin dance can accommodate any fitness level. “If you are looking for a fun, new
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hobby, any style is a fit, but if you are more interested in advancing your salsa skill level, trying mambo and cha-cha can be a nice challenge,” says Maldonado. “Sensual bachata is for those who want a little more spice and advanced body movement.”
Hallworth often sees people approach ing dance with uncertainty and apprehen sion, and he encourages an open mind: “Dancing isn’t for everyone, but if you give it a chance, you will be well rewarded. Most people learning to dance are a friendly bunch and will help newcomers.”
For Maldonado, it is also about shared experience, which she feels is one of the most beautiful aspects of Latin dance: “It’s a great, diverse group of people who can change your outlook on life. Being a part of any dance community can truly be life-changing.”
Marlaina Donato is an author, composer and painter. Connect at WildflowerLady.com.
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“Being a part of any dance community can truly be life-changing.”
Juices is a woman-owned holistic foods business in Foley, Alabama. Owners Stephanie Rhodes and Glenna Grant recently celebrated their 5th anniversary and are thankful for the continued growth of the business.
“The foods we consume play an integral role in the function of our bodies, so we began our journey out of a desire to help family members with their personal health issues, such as cancers and dementia,” says Rhodes. “We have a powerful desire to educate others and to promote natural, healthy eating and life style choices. When you give your body the proper fuel it needs, it is designed to heal itself.”
While Rhodes and Grant say that most doctors honestly believe they are doing what’s best, “they have been influenced by the pharmaceutical companies.” After years of continuing research and education, information has come out that “Big Pharma has control on our lives, and we are being sold lies about the toxic chemicals used to treat ailments.”
“In 2016, after watching the series ‘The Truth About Cancer’ by Ty Bollinger, God began to speak to me about having a wellness center where people could come to learn about and partake in various healthful treatments and educa tional classes, beginning with juices and smoothies,” says Rhodes.
At Agapé Juices, there are healthy cold pressed juices and healthy
food options along with a tranquil environment to relax and enjoy a fresh smoothie with friends, talk to Agapé’s knowledgeable staff about nutrition or have a quick business meeting over lunch.
“Recently, we introduced organic coffee with a drink menu that features flavors made with all natural organic ingredients such as black strap molasses, Ceylon cinnamon sticks, Tahitian vanilla beans, lavender buds and butterfly pea flowers. They are sweetened with monk fruit and stevia, which makes them low on the glycemic scale,” says Rhodes. They chose to serve Caffeinatrix coffee, which is another local, woman-owned business and provides organic coffee and a cold brew made with alkaline water (Kangen). This results in a healthier low acid coffee. With a tagline of “food that fuels,” Rhodes and Grant take the food offerings seriously. “So much of the food that we eat can cause an inflammatory response and inflammation is at the root of nearly every disease out there,” says Rhodes. Agapé will continue working toward adding more layers of education and healthy lifestyle choices that will allow bodies to heal naturally and function properly. “We have had great results with our 5-Day Reset, designed to address inflammatory issues of all kinds.” Rhodes says.
Location: 3782 South McKenzie St., Foley, AL. Agape-Juices.com. 251-979-6201.
Nourishing your body, mind and spirit. Fountain Plaza Shopping Center 3782 South McKenzie St., Foley, AL Agape-Juices.com
COASTAL ALABAMA FARMERS & FISHERMENS MARKET
Committed to Baldwin County’s local community & agriculture. 20733 Miflin Rd., Foley, AL CoastalAlabamaMarket.com
DRAGONFLY FOOD BAR
Not-yo-average taco joint prepare to rock your taste buds.
7 S. Church St., Fairhope, AL Facebook: Dragonfly Foodbar
FAIRHOPE HEALTH FOODS
Homegrown in the South since 1975.
280 Eastern Shore Shopping Center Fairhope, AL • 251-928-0644 Va-FairhopeHealthFoods.com
FAIRHOPE JUICE COMPANY
Nourish the body. Fuel the soul. Battles Wharf Market 18327 Scenic Hwy 98, Fairhope, AL FairhopeJuiceCompany.com
Quaint, mom-n-pop eatery providing healthy eats in a casual atmosphere.
312 Fairhope Ave., Fairhope, AL LocalsFairhope.com
Family-owned market supplying fresh produce and more to our community.
17558 A Greeno Rd., Fairhope, AL MckenzieFarmMarket.com
NATURE NINE FARMS
Your source for local, ethical-grown wholesome, delicious food. sperkins@natureninefarms.com NatureNineFarms.com
OX KITCHEN
Made with fresh ingredients in-house daily, approachable, not intimidating.
365 S. Greeno Rd., Fairhope, AL TheOxKitchen.com
A surprising blend of traditional and new Mediterranean & Lebanese cuisine.
319 Fairhope Ave., Fairhope, AL SageLebaneseCuisine.com
Offering a healthy dining experience in a cozy, casual environment. 320 Eastern Shore Shopping Center Va-FairhopeHealthFoods.com
Be happy, eat healthy, live well. Taste and experience culinary delight! 314 De La Mare Ave., Fairhope, AL HappyOlive4.com
Gluten-free, keto-friendly options, featuring boars head meats & cheeses. 19452 Scenic Hwy 98, Fairhope, AL 251-517-0622
A neighborhood eatery serving made-fromscratch, vegan friendly, gluten-free goodness 759 Nichols Ave., Fairhope, AL WarehouseBakeryAndDonuts.com
Simple and colorful high-vibe cooking classes, events and fresh recipes. 251-656-9112
WildFlowersAndFreshFood.com
For an online list of local healthy food sources, visit NAGulfCoast.com/healthyeats.
During the last century, the rise of chemical-based agriculture has severely changed the way food is produced, and we have failed to recognize its unintended consequences. Research has revealed that if we continue on this path, our soil will give out and we will be unable to feed our children and grandchildren within the next 60 years. Thankfully, there is still time and positive transformation is possible through regenerative organic agri culture, which has its roots in Indigenous, traditional, ecological knowledge.
For more than 70 years, the Rodale Institute has been on the leading edge of the movement to promote a better, natural and more responsible way of modern farming by conducting research into the cultivation of healthy, living soils. Today, Nadine Clopton is advancing its related efforts through regenerative health care.
Clopton has been an NGO youth repre sentative to the United Nations for more than six years, was the first young person to serve as a director on the board, and is now serving as an elected vice president of
the Global NGO Executive Committee. In her role as program manager with Rodale Institute, Clopton combines her loves of health, advocacy and the ecosystem. Learn ing about food as medicine was transforma tive in her own health journey with chronic illnesses, and she hopes that others are also able to experience the transformative sense of well-being and connection that comes through such a lifestyle practice.
Regenerative health care carries potent “medicine” for a lot of the things that are ailing us in this country: the epidemic of chronic illnesses, the climate crisis, global food insecurity and ecological health. We believe that healing our soil is a prereq uisite for healing ourselves. Regenerative health care draws the link between agricul ture and health care because we need those two systems to talk with one another, and the answers are right beneath our feet.
How do we better connect our farming, food and healthcare systems?
The best thing we can do is take those three things out of a silo and look at them as part of a complex, interconnected web. In Rodale Institute’s “farm to hospital” model with St. Luke’s Hospital, we have a working farm at the hospital and much of the pro duce grown there ends up on the patient’s plates, in the cafeteria or in a CSA [com munity-supported agriculture] share that the hospital employees can take home. At Rodale Institute, we’re hoping to build that bridge between agriculture and health care, and invite doctors and farmers to be part of the cycle of health care: thinking about the health of our soil and the health and the nutrient density of what’s on our plates.
The heart and soul of what I’m working on right now centers around connecting
What does the regenerative health care movement mean for both human health and agriculture?
What is next in your plans for the future of regenerative health care?
health care and agriculture with Rodale In stitute’s first-ever Regenerative Healthcare Conference. We’re inviting doctors, nurses, RDs [registered dietician], nutritionists and others with interests in health and well-being to the farm for four days to get their hands in the soil and learn about how soil health is directly correlated to human health and how food is medicine.
We’re working closely with Dr. Scott Stoll’s team at The Plantrician Project and bringing together some incredible lumi naries like Dr. Uma Naidoo, Dr. Maya Shetreat, Dr. Rupa Marya, Dr. Michelle Perro, Dr. Mark Hyman, Dr. T. Colin Campbell and others. To our knowledge, this is the first-ever medical conference to be taking place on a living, breathing, working farm. We’re passionate about the idea of getting doctors out of their practices and letting them get their hands in the soil. There’s no better way to learn about the real fundamental difference between conventional and regenerative organic agriculture than by picking up a scoop of soil in our conventional model and picking up a scoop of soil in our regenerative organic model.
Healing our planet begins with healing ourselves and how we relate to the planet and to one another, so through these tangible, in-person experiences, we can get even closer to that ultimate goal of a healed system.
Get to know a farmer! Go get your hands in the soil, talk to your local farmers and start to rebuild that web of connection and relationship. Look around you and see how the Earth responds when we’re operating in a way that’s regenerative and allows natural systems to thrive. And for practitioners, get curious! Start breaking out of the siloed worldview of health and medicine and learn about the potent medicines that are all around us in our food and our soil.
Kirby Baldwin writes for KnoWEwell, the Regenerative Whole Health Hub and col laborative partner of Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp.
HOURS:
Monday - Fr iday: 8am - 6pm
S aturday & Sunday: CLOSED
by Marlaina Donato
Amidst the whirlwind of our daily busyness, Mother Nature goes about her own affairs, conjuring everyday miracles from the humble trinity of tangled roots, dark soil and sunlight.
On our way to our next task, we might catch snippets of afternoon gold blur past in a window, but we may long for more time to accept October’s invitation of long shadows.
Having an indoor haven touched with nature’s balm takes the edge off the workat-home days, the can’t-catch-a-breath days and the won’t-stop-raining days. Bringing a bit of the outside in helps us to remember the big picture. The 12thcentury mystic and healer Hildegard of Bingen called the energy of the Earth veriditas, or greenness, and it is easy to tap into this life force by aligning our senses with the rhythms of nature.
Beauty is an often forgotten necessity, but can gently lead us back on track when we place a vase of fresh flowers, pine branches or wild rose hips on a window sill. Designating one wall in the house for a photographic tapestry of spring cherry trees, mountain snow, a turquoise beach or majestic oaks can lower blood pressure just as effectively as actually being there.
Keeping a “scent jar” on the desk filled with dried garden basil, bee balm or sweet grass clippings from the lawn can give us a breath of summer all year long. Placing a piece of found driftwood, preserved birch or a bowl of handmade potpourri on a cof fee table can make afternoon breaks more mindful. A simple table fountain can bless any space with the harmony of its waters.
Creating a “changing season” shelf and cel ebrating the hour invites the whole family to contribute to inspired whimsy.
Even if we simply place found branches in a basket with amber holiday lights in a cozy corner, living more closely with nature can help us maintain core serenity. The dance of each season is brief, but tuning into their wealth can make our own dance a bit more magical.
Marlaina Donato is an author, composer and painter. Connect at WildflowerLady.com.
Versatile, nutritious, colorful and flavor ful, beets are quite the package deal. This easy-togrow, multi-season vegetable is packed with nutrition and plays well with other ingre dients. Beets can be enjoyed raw, roasted, boiled or pickled. They can be blended into quick dips, thin-sliced for healthy chips or incorporated into desserts for a mild, sweet flavor and bold color.
“Beets have been a staple ingredient on our vegetarian menus for generations. They are an easy way to add natural sweetness and gorgeous color to so many dishes, both savory and sweet,” says Danica Wilcox, owner of the Moosewood Restaurant, in Ithaca, New York, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary next year. The quintessential vegetarian eatery’s go-to beet dishes include hummus, burgers and borscht.
“Beets boast so many health benefits. Being rich in folate, manganese and copper, they are good for heart, brain and bone health. They are also a good source of fiber, which will feed the good bacteria in your gut, leading to improved gut health,” says Candace Bell, a Phoenixbased holistic nutritionist and food blogger at The Wheatless Kitchen.
“Beets have a unique earthy flavor that goes perfectly with bright citrus. Roasting them brings out their sweet and savory flavors, and they pair well with arugula, crunchy walnuts and tangy goat cheese in a salad.”
Lisa Keys, of Kennett Square, Penn sylvania, author of the food blog Good Grief Cook, grows beets and uses them in a number of ways. “Beets get their color from natural plant pigments called beta lains, which contain antioxidants and antiinflammatory properties that help control illnesses like diabetes and heart disease,” she says. Her blog offers a recipe for a hearty, roasted beet sandwich, which pairs the root veggie with feta and a smashed avocado, dill, lime and yogurt spread.
Versatility is one of the beet’s star quali ties. The root vegetable can be quickpickled with other garden vegetables, pureed into soup, roasted for a side dish, shredded raw into salads, juiced into a smoothie or even concentrated into a powder—a favorite of registered dieti tian nutritionist Mascha Davis, in Los Angeles. “Beet powder can be added to so many recipes for a fast and easy super food boost,” she says. Her go-to applica tions for beet powder include a beet and
Versatile, nutritious, colorful and flavorful, beets are quite the package deal.
rose latte, a beet-colored “pink yogurt” topped with berries and cacao nibs, and overnight oats swirled with beet powder. If the benefits of the beetroot didn’t already run deep enough, its stems and leaves are not only edible, but also packed with vitamins A, B and K, as well as copper, manganese, iron and calcium. The greens make a great side dish to accompany a beetroot main dish or can be incorporated into a beet soup, salad, sandwich or smoothie for a zero-waste meal turbocharged with nutrients.
Like spinach, chard and other veg etables in the goosefoot family (Chenopo diaceae), beets are rich in oxalates which can contribute to kidney stones. For most healthy people, though, oxalates aren’t harmful, if enjoyed in moderation.
Connect with Washington, D.C., freelance writer April Thompson at AprilWrites.com.
2 medium, fresh organic or local beets with leaves
¼ cup unsweetened jasmine green tea (or water), hot or cold
1½ Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
Juice and zest of ½ lemon (1½ Tbsp juice)
2 large garlic cloves
¾ tsp sea salt
10 oz dry, whole-grain linguine
2 oz soft, artisanal goat cheese or soft cashew cheese, crumbled ¼ cup fresh, small basil leaves
Preheat the oven (or toaster oven) to 350° F. Wash, dry and remove the leaves from the beets; thinly slice the leaves and chill until ready to use. Wrap the beets in recycled aluminum foil and roast in the oven until cooked through and tender, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. When cool enough to handle, scrape off the beet skin using the dull side of a paring knife, then chop the beets.
In a blender, add the chopped beets, tea, olive oil, lemon juice and zest, garlic and salt. Blend until velvety smooth, at least 2 minutes. Set aside. (Tip: Be careful. This purée will stain anything that it may be splattered onto.)
Bring a large saucepan of water to boil over high heat. Add salt to the water, if desired. Add the linguine and cook according to package directions. (Alternatively, try my lidcooking technique to save energy: After stirring the linguine into the boiling water, cover with a lid and turn off or remove from heat. Let cook without heat per the same timing suggested on the pasta package.)
While the pasta is cooking, pour the beet purée into a large sauté pan and bring just to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, add the beet greens and cook while stir ring until the greens are wilted, about 5 minutes.
Drain the pasta, reserving ½ cup of the cooking liquid. Add the pasta to the beet sauce and gently toss with tongs to combine. Add desired amount of reserved cooking liquid (if any) and gently toss to combine.
Transfer to a large serving bowl and sprinkle with the goat cheese and basil. Sprinkle with additional lemon zest, if desired, and serve.
Recipe by The Chef’s Garden.
Photo courtesy of Michelle Demuth-Bibb
YIELD: 2 SERVINGS
1 Tbsp sea salt
¼ tsp smoked paprika
4 medium beets, rinsed and trimmed
2 Tbsp olive oil
Aluminum foil
Preheat the oven to 375° F. Line two, 18-by13-by-1-inch baking pans with aluminum foil. Combine sea salt and paprika. Cut the beets into very thin slices using a sharp knife or mandoline. Divide beets between each of the prepared pans. Drizzle each with oil then shake in the pan. Sprinkle with salt mixture and toss again. Bake for 15 minutes, then flip and bake for another 15 minutes or until chips are crispy.
Recipe by Reynolds Wrap
FOR THE SALAD:
1 bunch kale
3-4 medium beets
⅓ cup roasted walnuts, chopped ½ cup goat cheese
Pinch of salt 1-2 pinches of microgreens
1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
½ tsp fine sea salt
½ tsp freshly crushed black pepper, finely ground
¼ cup balsamic vinegar ¾ cup extra-virgin olive oil
Add beets to a full pot of water and bring to a boil, cooking them until they are fork tender. Remove beets from stove and drain into a colander. Run cold water over them to cool slightly. Remove the skins with a paring knife and/or fingers. Slice into quarters.
In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the balsamic, mustard, salt and pepper. Add the oil and whisk thoroughly to combine. Continue whisking until the dressing is fully emulsified.
Combine kale, beets, walnuts and 2 Tbsp dressing in a bowl and mix. Add a pinch or two of microgreens. Add the goat cheese by breaking it into small pieces. Add a pinch of salt and serve.
Note: Store any extra dressing in an airtight container and place in the refrigerator. Use within 7 days.
Recipe by The Chef’s Garden
YIELD: 6 SERVINGS
2 roasted beets, small 1 15-oz can chickpeas
1 large lemon, zested
½ large lemon, juiced
1 pinch salt and black pepper
2 large garlic cloves, minced
2 Tbsp tahini
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
Peel and dice beets into cubes and roast in the oven at 350 ° F for 20 to 25 minutes. Once the beets are cooled, place them in blender or food processor and blend until only small bits remain. Add remaining ingredients except for olive oil and blend until smooth. Drizzle in olive oil as the hummus is mixing. Taste and adjust seasonings, adding more salt, lemon juice or olive oil, as needed. If it’s too thick, add a bit of water. This dish will keep in the fridge for up to a week.
Recipe by The Chef’s Garden
Photo courtesy of Renolds Wrap Photo courtesy of Michelle Demuth-Bibb Photo courtesy of Michelle Demuth-Bibb
director of Green Schoolyards America, a nine-year-old nonprofit. Even poured rubber surfacing or artificial turf can be come too hot and contribute to unhealthy environments for children if not shaded, she says. Planting shade trees and selecting cooler materials such as wood, mulch or engineered wood fiber is critical, especially in hotter climates.
“Playground equipment made from recycled materials can still get very hot and should be kept under the shade of trees,” she cautions. Green schoolyards can incor porate logs, stumps and play equipment made from real wood which provide great play value and stay cooler.
Skipping rope, playing hopscotch or shooting hoops have traditionally been enjoyed on asphalt-paved schoolyards enclosed by chain-link fencing. But over the last few decades, city leaders, school districts and other stakeholders have been trans forming such areas into verdant play-learn spaces, designed for and by students and the community, which also offer green space for surrounding neighborhoods to enjoy during non-school hours.
While there is no official definition of a green schoolyard, these projects often share such elements as shade trees and native plantings. Asphalt urban heat islands are being replaced with permeable pavers, rain gardens and vegetative ditches called bioswales to help retain rainwater.
Incorporating climate-appropriate materials and arboriculture that provides ornamen tal shading using trees and shrubs is important, says Alejandra Chiesa, California state
Brenda Kessler, the green schoolyards program coordinator for the Children & Nature Network (C&NN), works with teams made up of city and school district leaders, along with local partners, to imple ment schoolyard makeovers. The organiza tion is in the process of publishing district design guidelines that detail different features. “We’re not prescriptive, but it can include elements like outdoor classrooms, stormwater retention infrastructure, pollinator gardens, edible gardens, shade structures and boulders,” Kessler says.
The Trust for Public Land, which works to create parks and preserve public lands, began transforming schoolyards 25 years ago in response to the shortage of space available for new parks. “Every schoolyard we do across the country looks different. We’re responding to the local require ments,” says Danielle Denk, the Trust’s Community Schoolyards initiative director. The organization has partnered with New York City’s Department of Education for
Sukjai Photo/AdobeStock.comits Schoolyard to Playground Initiative. The program has remade more than 260 schoolyards in all five boroughs, opening up the grounds to extended after-school and weekend hours. Parks that may include such new features as shaded seating and exercise tracks are now within a 10-minute walk for 4 million New Yorkers.
In urban areas, large-caliper trees provide shade and bring down the overall temperature of the school, creating a more comfortable indoor learning environment. Trees also improve air quality and noise pollution in schools located in industrial neighborhoods. Dearborn, Michigan, is one such industrial city that seeks to reduce air and noise pollution through green schoolyards.
Priya Cook, director of the C&NN green schoolyards program, says its projects support local teams in systems change and initia tive. Removing asphalt and replacing it with permeable pavers, bioswales and rain gardens also mitigates flooding. In Milwaukee, C&NN supported scaling work of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District to install rainwater retention features on school playgrounds.
Rural communities, which may already have good soil and tree canopies, are also candidates for green schoolyards. “We found in rural communities that the schools serve an important civic role. Some of these areas do not have a physical park or gathering place for social events. Green schoolyards provide [a] venue for the social infrastructure that is crucial in rural America,” Denk says.
Green schoolyards can offer hands-on learning spaces where chil dren help with planting, mulching and soil health. Wildlife habi tats, native gardens and natural ecosystems offer opportunities to learn about migrating birds and insects. Raised bed vegetable gardens provide nutrition and gardening education.
Cook says academic benefits go beyond learning about nature: “One feature that comes up a lot is creating space for outdoor learning in general. Many subjects can be taught outside, wheth er or not they’re physically focused on that natural environment.”
Green schoolyards are going international. C&NN is spear heading a multi-organizational effort to create a Global Lesson on Greening School Grounds and Outdoor Learning project; the plan will be drafted at a meeting this November in Salzburg, Austria. “We’re all coming together to advance green schoolyards worldwide,” Kessler says.
Sheila Julson is a freelance writer and regular contributor to Natural Awakenings.
Talk to us about what ’s ailing you, and we’re likely to have just the thing so you can live your life revitalized!
620 N McKenzie St, Ste 200, Foley AL 3099 Loop Rd, Orange Beach, AL 251-943-9355 enrGWellness.com Facebook @enrgwellness
We go beyond medication & symptom management. Discover functional medicine to restore whole-body health.
“Our bodies have an amazing capacity to heal themselves. Discover the underlying causes of illness so you can heal from within.”
Integrative Healthcare of Lower Alabama
Tara McLellan, Family Nurse Practitioner and 251-943-9355 | AlabamaIntegrativeHealth.com 620 N. McKenzie St. Ste 200, Foley, AL Located inside enrG Wellness Telehealth Appointments Available!
Integrative Health at enrG - Tara McLellan
Green schoolyards can offer hands-on learning spaces where children help with planting, mulching and soil health.
Unity on the Eastern Shore’s 32nd Anniversary Celebration & Community Festival! Nov. 6, 9:30am-1pm.Join us in commemorating Unity’s 32 years of service and ministry. Be there for the party! Silent auction, life-affirming music, 10:30am Sunday service, awesome food and fun for all ages. Email for more info or to donate for silent auction. Something Wonderful Is Happen ing Here!22979 US-98, Fairhope, AL 36532. Uni tyEasternShore@gmail.com. UnityEasternShore. wixsite.com/unity.
Above and Beyond Yoga India Retreat – March 2023: Two-week yoga retreat with Shoshana Treichel and Nrithya Jagannathan (director of KYM Institute of Yoga Studies). Spend time in the mountains, at the beach and at the worldrenowned Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram. Additional details and itinerary coming soon. For more information, contact Jake Treichel at Jake@ABHotYoga.com or 251-639-9030.
Discounts on Supplements – Every Sunday 15% off supplements at Fairhope Health Foods (251-928-0644) and Virginia’s Health Foods (251479-3952). 280 Eastern Shore Shopping Center, Fairhope, AL and 3055-A Dauphin St, Mobile, AL. VA-FairhopeHealthFoods.com.
Fairhope Unitarian Sunday Service – 11amnoon. Held inside and streamed on Zoom. Different guest speakers each week—either a member of our congregation or someone from the surrounding community. Fairhope Unitarian Fellowship, 1150 Fairhope Ave, Fairhope, AL. FairhopeUnitarian Fellowship@gmail.com. FairhopeUU.org.
Open Table United Church of Christ – Sunday School 9:30-10:20am. Worship 10:30-11:30am, rear chapel of All Saints Episcopal at 151 S. Ann St, Mobile, AL. Wednesdays 6-7:30pm online book study: Sleeper, Awake on Facebook, Facebook.com/ WhereTrueLoveIs or by Zoom. Office@Open TableUCC.org. OpenTableUCC.org.
Mobile Bay Makers Market – 11am-3pm, 2nd and 4th Sundays. Open air, sustainably driven market showcasing 25+ local artisans and growers. Music. Food trucks. Year-round, family and dog friendly. Free. South Park of Fairhope Pier, Fairhope, AL. MBMakersMarket@gmail.com.
Unity on the Eastern Shore Sunday Celebration Service – 10:30am. In Person and Streaming ‘Live’ at www.facebook.com/UnityEasternShore. Revs. Jack Fowler and Linda Fisher. Join our vibrant, progressive spiritual community for a gathering of inspired talks, life-affirming music and the recogni tion of the Presence of God in all living things. We honor all religions, spiritual paths and lifestyles. Unity on the Eastern Shore, 22979 US-98, Fairhope, AL 36532. UnityEasternShore@gmail.com. UnityEasternShore.wixsite.com/unity.
Youth/Children’s Spiritual Program – 10:30am. Unity’s co-founder Myrtle Fillmore exclaimed that children are not our future, they’re our present! Kids 4 and up are invited, while parents are in service, to learn about the life changing principles of Unity, which promotes kindness, love of one another, confidence and self-esteem through the understanding that they and every person are chil dren of God. Qualified teachers and fun curriculum are used for each session. Unity on the Eastern Shore, 22979 US-98, Fairhope, AL 36532. Unity EasternShore@ gmail.com. UnityEasternShore. wixsite.com/unity.
Conversations on ‘A Course in Miracles’– noon. (Immediately following Unity’s Sunday Service) 2nd and 4th Sundays each month. Join Rev. Jack Fowler for a heart-and mind-opening discussion of these life altering concepts, which teach us to see the world through the eyes of love, instead of fear. Learn how to use the immense power of forgiveness
to experience the permanent peace of God. Dona tions to Unity accepted. No prior experience of book necessary. Unity on the Eastern Shore, 22979 US-98, Fairhope, AL 36532. UnityEasternShore@ gmail.com. UnityEasternShore.wixsite.com/unity.
Soul Collage Workshop – Oct. 11, 10:30am-noon or 6:30-8pm. Join Rev. Linda Fisher to experience a guided process to create a vision board and road map of your intentions. Our words, thoughts and imagination work together to create our lives. Just as Jesus said in Matthew 8:13, ‘It is done unto you as you believe.’ $20 Suggested Donation (materi als included). Unity on the Eastern Shore, 22979 US-98, Fairhope, AL 36532. UnityEasternShore@ gmail.com. UnityEasternShore.wixsite.com/unity.
Tai Chi – 6:30pm. Join James Harkins, a skilled practitioner and instructor, to learn, understand and practice the ancient body wisdom of Tai Chi. Great for core conditioning, strength and balance. No experience necessary. Unity on the Eastern Shore, 22979 US-98, Fairhope, AL 36532. Unity EasternShore@gmail.com. UnityEasternShore. wixsite.com/unity.
Restorative Yoga – 9am. 1st Wednesday each month. Treat yourself to a relaxing, healing and rejuvenating session of Restorative Yoga with Bobbi Jo Machholz. Bring mat, pillow, blocks and will ingness. Donations to Unity accepted. Unity on the Eastern Shore, 22979 US-98, Fairhope, AL 36532. UnityEasternShore@gmail.com. UnityEastern Shore.wixsite.com/unity.
Gulf Coast Creation Care – Every 1st Thursday of the month at 4pm by Zoom. An alliance of faith communities working to focus the Gulf Coast community’s moral attention on the climate crisis. Info@GulfCoastCreationCare.org. GulfCoast CreationCare.org.
REWIRED: Teachings of Dr. Joe Dispenza –6-7:15pm through Thursday, Oct. 22. On the lead ing edge of scientific and spiritual integration, Dr. Dispenza is driven by his conviction that each of us has the potential for greatness and unlimited abilities by accessing the powerful Divine Presence within us all. Facilitated by Bobbi Jo Machholz, Donations to Unity accepted. Unity on the Eastern Shore, 22979 US-98, Fairhope, AL 36532. UnityEasternShore@ gmail.com. UnityEasternShore.wixsite.com/unity.
Prism United – 2-4pm. Find community. Be yourself. Serving LGBTQ youth in Mobile and Fairhope through facilitated, activity-based support groups for pre-teens, teens and families. Info@ PrismUnited.org. 251-219-8441. PrismUnited.org.
Scientists have discovered a natural way to kill germs fast. Now thousands of people are using it against viruses and bacteria that cause illness.
Colds and many other illnesses start when viruses get in your nose and multiply. If you don’t stop them early, they spread and cause misery.
Hundreds of studies confirm copper kills viruses and bacteria almost instantly just by touch.
That’s why ancient Greeks and Egyptians used copper to purify water and heal wounds. They didn’t know about viruses and bacteria, but now we do.
“The antimicrobial activity of copper is well established.” National Institutes of Health.
Scientists say copper’s high conductance disrupts the electrical balance in a microbe cell and destroys it in seconds.
The EPA recommended hospitals use copper for touch surfaces like faucets and doorknobs. This cut the spread of MRSA and other illnesses by over half, and saved lives.
The strong scientific evidence gave inventor Doug Cornell an idea. He made a smooth copper probe
with a tip to fit in the bottom of the nostril, where viruses collect.
When he felt a tickle in his nose like a cold about to start, he rubbed the copper gently in his nose for 60 seconds.
“It worked!” he exclaimed. “The cold never happened. I used to get 2-3 bad colds every year. Now I use my device whenever I feel a sign I am about to get sick.”
He hasn’t had a cold in 10 years.
“It works! I love it!”
“I can’t believe how good my nose feels.”
“Is it supposed to work that fast?”
“One of the best presents ever.”
“Sixteen flights, not a sniffle!”
“Cold sores gone!”
“It saved me last holidays. The kids all got sick, but not me.”
“I am shocked! My sinus cleared, no more headache, no more congestion.”
“Best sleep I’ve had in years!”
After his first success with it, he asked relatives and friends to try it. They all said it worked, so he patented CopperZap® and put it on the market.
Soon hundreds of people had tried it. 99% said copper worked if they used it right away at the first sign of germs, like a tickle in the nose or a scratchy throat.
Longtime users say they haven’t been sick in years. They have less stress, less medical costs, and more time to enjoy life.
Customers report using copper against:
Virus variants
Sinus trouble
Cold sores
Fever blisters
Canker sores
Strep throat
Night stuffiness
Morning congestion
Nasal drip
Infected sores
Infected wounds Styes
Ringworm
Other microbial threats
The handle is curved and textured to increase contact. Copper can kill germs picked up on fingers and hands after you touch things other people have touched.
The EPA says copper works just as well when tarnished.
Dr. Bill Keevil led one of the science teams. He placed millions of viruses on a copper surface. “They started to die literally as soon as they touched it.”
CopperZap® is made in the USA of pure copper. It has a 90-day full money back guarantee. Price $79.95. Get $10 off each CopperZap with code NATA31.
Go to www.CopperZap.com or call toll-free 1-888-411-6114.
Buy once, use forever.
Statements are not intended as product health claims and have not been evaluated by the FDA. Not claimed to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
New research: Copper kills viruses in seconds.Connecting you to local resources for natural and green living. To find out how you can be
email MichelleS@NAGulfCoast.com or call 251-990-9552.
B-BUTTERFLY SALON
103A N. Bancroft St., Fairhope, AL 251-990-9934
280 Eastern Shore Shopping Center 251-928-0644
151 S. Ann St., Mobile, AL 36604
Pastor@OpenTableUCC.org 251-333-0435 • OpenTableUCC.org
Va-FairhopeHealthFoods.com
A salon offering organic products and services including hair color and shampoo. Make a difference today in your hair, your life and the Earth. Visit us for a free hair exam today and go organic! See ad, page 38.
TruAura Skincare Specialist/Makeup Artist Daphne, AL • 256-508-0389
TruAuraBeauty.com/trubeauty4u
Skincare, anti-aging, cosmet ics and body care that are pure, clean, safe and effective with zero harmful ingredi ents. Prebiotic/probioticbased and microbiomefriendly. See ad, page 11.
Old Government, Mobile: 251-607-6666 2101 Hwy. 98, Daphne: 251-725-4334 TMACsHairStudio.com
A relaxing salon environment that is free of harmful chemicals, impurities and fragrance. Offering customized hair services and regenerative treatments with 100% vegan organic products and essential oils. Ask about following the lunar calendar effective hair treatments. See ad, page 7.
Carolyn Olson, Certified Thermographer
Gulf Coast Locations from LA to FL 251-623-2225
ThermographyAdvantage.com
FDA registered thermography offers breast screenings that are non-invasive and radiationfree, without compression or bodily contact. Valuable for detecting early stage breast disease and more. Also offering Electro-Lymphatic Therapy. See ad, page 9.
Comprehensive health food store offering a range of CBD prod ucts: caps, soft gels, gummies, sprays, tinctures, topicals, mixed with ghee, teas, waters, hot cocoa, infused honey, pedicure powders. See ad, page 25.
Aaron VanHauter, Owner 2005 Hwy 98, Daphne, AL 251-586-8890 • Simply-CBD.net
At Simply CBD our goal is to provide our customers with the highest quality hemp-derived CBD products in a multitude of ways, helping you experience the healing benefits you deserve. See ad, back cover.
3055 A Dauphin St., Mobile, AL 251-479-3952
Va-FairhopeHealthFoods.com
Comprehensive health food store offering a range of CBD products: caps, soft gels, gummies, sprays, tinctures, topicals, mixed with ghee, teas, waters, hot cocoa, infused honey, pedicure powders. See ad, page 25.
1150 Fairhope Ave., Fairhope, AL 251-929-3207 • FairhopeUU.org FairhopeUnitarianFellowship@gmail.com
Welcoming people of any age, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status or cultural background. We seek truth and knowledge, care for the Earth and show kindness to others while creating an atmosphere of love.
We are believers, seekers, and skeptics. We are Open Table. Worship Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. Sunday School at 9:30 a.m. Providing progressive biblical scholarship and ministries for racial reconciliation, care of creation, and LGBTQ+ support. See ad, page 7.
22979 US-98, Fairhope, AL 36532
UnityEasternShore@gmail.com 251-304-4715
UnityEasternShore.wixsite.com/unity
An extraordinary spiritual family honoring every religion, path and lifestyle. All are welcome to join our progressive Sunday morning service or attend one of our life-affirming classes & events. With the presence of God within each of us, we are co-creating a world that works for everyone. See ad, page 24.
MIND PERFORMANCE CENTER, LLC
240 W. Laurel Ave., Foley, AL 251-597-8787
MindPerformanceCenter.com
Drugs are not the only answer. Our unique approach is noninvasive and has helped de mentia patients that originally scored poorly on cognitive assessments restore to normal scoring on the same assess ment. See ad, page 8.
240 W. Laurel Ave., Foley, AL 251-597-8787
MindPerformanceCenter.com
We can reduce or eliminate symptoms of depression. Our treatments often deliver improvement when nothing else has. 70% of our depression patients see symptoms reduced by at least 50%. See ad, page 8.
20733 Miflin Rd. (Co. Rd. 20), Foley, AL 251-709-4469
CoastalAlabamaMarket.com
Open year-round on Saturdays only, 9am2pm. Featuring local farms with seasonal produce, meat, eggs, honey, jellies, baked goods, seafood, hand-crafted soaps and more. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.
Foley, AL
NatureNineFarms.com
100% sustainable farming practices. Your source for local, ethical-grown food. Pasture raised eggs, grass fed and finished beef. Find us at your local Piggly Wiggly Fairhope, Greers Markets, or order online at NatureNineFarms.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
280 Eastern Shore Shopping Center 251-928-0644 • Café: 251-929-0055
Va-FairhopeHealthFoods.com
Comprehensive health food store and organic café serving the public for 40+ years. Extensive supplement selection: organic groceries, produce and meats; bath and body products; bulk bins; pet supplies; baby products; CBD and more. See ad, page 25.
3055 A Dauphin St., Mobile, AL 251-479-3952
Va-FairhopeHealthFoods.com
Comprehensive health food store and organic café serving the public for 40+ years. Exten sive supplement selec tion: organic groceries, produce and meats; bath and body products; bulk bins; pet supplies; baby prod ucts; CBD and more. See ad, page 25.
National Board Certified Functional Medicine Health & Wellness Coach 251-635-6250
GoodLifeHealthCoaching.com
Attention health conscious, men and women struggling to prioritize the things that will prolong your life—healthy meals, exercise, recovery. Health Coaches help you make changes when change is hard, in all areas of your life. I’ll take you by the hand to offer guidance + tools that work. See ad, page 29.
620 N. McKenzie St., Ste. 200, Foley, AL 251-210-8615
AlabamaIntegrativeHealth.com
Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner Tara McLellan addresses the root cause of disease with integrative medicine—a blend of traditional western medicine and science-based functional medicine. Ask about our custom weight loss program. See ad, page 31.
Charlotte Stutts, Creator and Owner 404-665-6614
KingsDedication@gmail.com
KingsDedication.com
We create one-of-a-kind healing jewelry with the intention to raise the vibration of humanity and the planet through healing energy exchange and healthy self-awareness.
3099 Loop Rd., Orange Beach, AL
620 N. McKenzie St., Ste 200, Foley, AL 251-240-0842 • enrGIV.com
Vitamin IV lounge and functional medicine clinic. IV vitamin therapies provide relief, healing and recovery for people with health concerns ranging from dehydration to chronic illness. Call us for a free consultation. See ad, page 31
National Board Certified Functional Medicine Health & Wellness Coach 251-635-6250
TryMyCoach@gmail.com
GoodLifeHealthCoaching.com
Attention health conscious, men and women struggling to prioritize the things that will prolong your life—healthy meals, exercise, recovery. Health Coaches help you make changes when change is hard, in all areas of your life.
I’ll take you by the hand to offer guidance + tools that work. See ad, page 29.
Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach & Personal Trainer 251-504-5237 • BeHealthyAndThrive.com Kimberly@BeHealthyAndThrive.com
Holistic, Integrative Health Coach specializing in helping busy women get off the diet rollercoaster, release stubborn weight, balance hormones, gain energy and achieve the health they deserve in mind, body and spirit. Come love yourself healthy versus starve yourself thin! See ad, page 11
217-B Fairhope Ave., Fairhope, AL
2724 Old Shell Rd., Midtown Mobile, AL 251-270-7200 • 251-586-8198
PeakAlkalinity.com
Offering cleansing far infrared sauna sessions followed by a hydrating collagen shower and detoxifying foot spas. Ask about package specials. See ad, page 19
ELEMENTS THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE 6920 Airport Blvd., Ste. 111, Mobile, AL 251-342-6415
ElementsMassage.com/Mobile
A therapeutic massage handcrafted just for you.
Reduced stress, elevated mood and a strengthened immune system are all part of experiencing a therapeutic massage The Elements Way. Schedule an appointment today. See ad, page 19.
Jennifer (Adams) Killgo, LMT #3263 28170 N. Main St., Ste. C, Daphne, AL 251-616-4201 • JubileeHealingArts.com
Intuitive integrative massage techniques are used to facilitate the body into a state of healing without the “no pain no gain” mentality. Over 15 years experience in the bodywork and natural wellness field.
22873 US Highway 98, Ste. I-2 Fairhope, AL • 251-216-1922
NeuroFlourishLife.com
Cutting-edge treatment for ADD/ADHD, anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, spectrum disorders, TBI. See ad, page 13.
6348 Piccadilly Square Dr., AL 251-216-1922
NeuroFlourishLife.com
Cutting-edge treatment for ADD/ADHD, anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, spectrum disorders, TBI. See ad, page 13.
Mary Beth Svatek, M.A. Certified Hypnotherapist, IMDHA 251-300-9912 • EnergyModelOfChange.com EnergyModelOfChange@gmail.com
Unique System for Developing Skeletal Strength Josh Fandrich, Owner Fairhope, Mobile 333 Greeno Rd., S OR
27724 Old Shell Rd., Suite D Fairhope@OsteoStrong.me MidtownMobile@OsteoStrong.me
Just 15 minutes, once per week on our proprietary, osteogenic loading equipment can help you build a stronger you. See ad, page 23.
22873 U.S. 98, Building I, Fairhope, AL 251-277-1816
Dennis@WatersongLife.com
We All Carry Painful Emotions. Splankna is a Christian mind/body protocol for the release of stored negative emotions from trauma resulting in emotional and physical freedom. See ad, page 6.
35 years experience with anxiety, PTSD, weight loss, smoking cessation, removing blockages, regression, behavior modification, energy healing & streamlining, pain management.
Lydia M. Sullivan, DVM, CCRP, CVMA
Serving Mobile and the Eastern Shore
CareCoordinator@EverLovedVeterinary.com 251-229-1043 • EverLovedVeterinary.com
Providing in-home, veterinary medical acupuncture (for all ages), plus gentle care of geriatric and terminallyill pets in the comfort of your own home.
Hospice and euthanasia services available. See ad, page 19.
Dr. Daniel Bishop, DPT, SMT, CIDN 251-626-7778 • BishopPhysicalTherapy.com Office@BishopPhysicalTherapy.com
Our goal is to truly help patients overcome pain and conditions in a timely and cost-effective manner. We offer a unique experience by combining physical therapy, dry needling and joint alignment. See ad, page 12
Cindy Littlefield, President 251-653-9258 • SacroWedgy.com
Relax on Sacro Wedgy® for 20 minutes of daily therapy to isolate, cradle and elevate only the sacrum. Gravity does the work to help muscles relax and rebalance. Call for a free demo by appointment or order from SacroWedgy.com.
320 Eastern Shore Shopping Center, Fairhope, AL • 251-929-0055 Va-FairhopeHealthFoods.com
An organic cafe offering vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and dairyfree options. Open for lunch Monday-Saturday. See ad, page 25
3055 A Dauphin St., Mobile, AL 251-479-3952 Va-FairhopeHealthFoods.com
An organic cafe offering vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and dairyfree options. Open for lunch Monday-Saturday. See ad, page 25.
22979 us-98, Fairhope, AL UnityEasternShore@gmail.com. UnityEasternShore.Wixsite.com/Unity
Treat yourself to a relaxing, healing and rejuvenating session of Restorative Yoga with Bobbi Jo Machholz. Bring mat, pillow, blocks and willingness. 1st Wednesday each month, 9am. Donations to Unity accepted. See ad, page 24.
My journey is to give you the best of my knowledge.
Filtered water, certified organic color and bleach.
Trained at Vidal Sassoon Advanced Haircutting Academy in Toronto, Canada.
Visit us at B-Butterfly Salon.
251-990-9934
Pam Reaves, Certified Rolfer® 22806 Hwy. 98, Fairhope, AL 706-681-2935
Rolfing® is a holistic approach to manual therapy that seeks to improve your health and function by reestablishing the natural alignment and structural integration of the human body. More information at EasternShoreRolfing.com. See ad, page 7.
Fonda Denney, Director of Education
Mobile, AL 251-473-2220 • Blue.edu
Equipping individuals to passionately provide effective health and lifestyle services in the areas of beauty, spa, esthetics and therapeutic massage by providing career training through academic studies, hands-on education and community involvement. Find us on Facebook and Instragram @mybluecliff. See ad, page 25.
Carolyn Olson, Certified Thermographer Gulf Coast Locations from LA to FL 251-623-2225
ThermographyAdvantage.com
FDA registered thermography (digital Infrared thermal imaging) offers breast screenings that are noninvasive and radiation-free, without compression or bodily contact. Valuable for detecting early-stage breast disease and more. See ad, page 9.
Gulf Coast Alabama-Mississippi" on Facebook and follow @NaturallyAwake on Twitter and Instagram.
Classifieds are $1 per word, per month. To place a listing, email content to MichelleS@NAGulfCoast.com. Deadline is the 10th of the month.
NATURAL AWAKENINGS GULF COAST IS LOOKING FOR MAGAZINE DIS TRIBUTORS IN MISSISSIPPI – Work part-time only 2-3 days per month delivering NA Gulf Coast magazines to select locations in Harris, Hancock and Jackson counties. We provide a gas stipend plus $$ per each stop. Earn your MAD MONEY each month with only a small commitment of time. Call Mi chelle for more information at 251-990-9552.
PEAK ALKALINITY IS LOOKING TO HIRE IN MOBILE – Part-time, peoplefriendly, holistic-minded individual with a learning mentality and ‘can-do’ attitude needed 1-2 days 10am-5pm in Mobile and ev ery 3rd Sat in Fairhope. No experience needed. We will fully train on our products & services. Please call James Long for more information at 251-270-7200 or 251-586-8198.
THERMOGRAPHY ADVANTAGE IS LOOKING TO HIRE two part-time holisticminded individuals from the Mobile area. No experience needed. We will fully train for lymphatic therapy. Will work 2-3 days weekly. Please call Carolyn for more information at 251-644-4692.
THE SUNFLOWER CAFE IN MOBILE IS LOOKING TO HIRE full- and parttime cooks. The Cafe is open only for lunch Monday-Saturday. Apply in store or call Krissy Little at 251-479-3952.
ADVERTISE your products, services or help wanted here.
ADVERTISE your products, services or help wanted here.
ADVERTISE your products, services or help wanted here.
ATTENTION BUSY PROFESSIONALS
Are you struggling to prioritize eating well, sleeping well, transforming stress into positive energy, or just get moving? Board Certified Health Coach Michelle Smith will take you by the hand to help you get back on track. GoodLifeHealthCoaching.com. 251-635-6250.
TryMyCoach@gmail.com.
B-Butterfly SalonPguided meditations, mindful practices, or tedious efforts to “watch your breath,” the ancient OJAYA Deep Meditation “Armor” technique quickly settles you into a calm state of deep, blissful, rejuvenating rest. It’s totally effortless, and so powerful that you do not need to meditate long hours. Just 10-20 minutes attacks and dissolves the deep roots of anxiety, lethargy and stress. Brain fog evaporates and your vital energies get recharged in
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OJAYA is the first and only method that I can actually feel the effects when I meditate. — Zoe Gordon, Hoover, Alabama
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OJAYA makes you strong from the inside — so you can get out there and do something great.
Closely guarded for generations, these classic secrets of the OJAYA “Armor” technique are now revealed to you on our exquisitely beautiful videos — produced with love in the Earthborn Rainforest. Learn OJAYA on our site — start now free.
